NYPD Testing Google Glass

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New York City police are testing Google Glass for investigating terrorism and fighting crime, according to a report.

The New York City Police Department received several of the wearable computers for its intelligence and analytics unit and is testing its use, according to VentureBeat.

“We signed up, got a few pairs of the Google glasses, and we’re trying them out, seeing if they have any value in investigations, mostly for patrol purposes,” an unnamed New York City law enforcement official told VentureBeat.

Google Glass is currently itself in beta, and only those with an invitation are allowed to join the Google Glass Explorer program and pay $1,500 to use and test each device. A Google spokesman said that the company wasn't working with law enforcement departments at this time and that it was likely that police just signed up for the program online.

Google Glass does have some benefits for law enforcement, including facial recognition software, as well as being able to access databases while on the beat. If the NYPD likes Google Glass, that could mean thousands of Google Glass sold to its officers.